January 31, 2009

About a week ago I misplaced the lime green iPod. I was toying with the idea of buying an iPod touch, but am on hols in about 3 weeks and saving to go to Tasmania for a week, so was going to downsize to a Shuffle. I've been cburning CD's to take with me for the the hire car but have been lost without my mobile music.

Tonight, after spending a great day in Sydney's Rocks area, and Botanical Gardens, breaking in the new D90, and after a couple of beers decided to have an early night. I just got home, changed the sheets, moved the bed, and low and behold, there's the iPod, a little dusty, but none the worse for wear.

So that's saved me spending on a new one. Spent some money today on a new heavy duty Gorilla Pod, (for the camera) so I'm glad I don't have to spend any more.

About to tackle the 2nd half of a Rolf Binder 2005 Barossa Valley Cab/Save Merlot. Yumm. With cheese and crackers, what more can a koala bare.

January 24, 2009

Today was the hottest day in Sydney for about 3 years. Temperatures reached 41.5 C/bloody hot F, in the outer western suburbs and at Sydney Airport. I was in town, and had planned to go out to Parramatta, which is about a 45 minute train trip to catch up on some work, but decided to stay in town and do it from another location. Stayed there for about an hour and a half, mainly because of the airconditioning. It was hot when I went in and seemed hotter when i came out. Remembered that I was supposed to be going out tonight, and knew I still had to take some stuff home and then travel back into the city, but the heat got to me. I bought a bottle of Semillon Sauv Blanc, so I'll have my own party here. Not that there's anything on TV, but i have a new camera to play with and training DVD to watch so I know which buttons to press. My first DSLR and i love it. Now all i have to do, is learn to drive the thing.

Tempted to go out to work tomorrow afternoon, so I can have the Australia Day holiday Monday clear. There's lots going on in the city, and its usually a photographer's delight, so I'll take the camera in, even if most of the shots are in auto mode.

Have a great weekend folks. My Aussie shock jock mate is officiating at a ceremony in the outer west, and another friend has a birthday later in the week. He reckons that Australia Day is a great warmup for his festivities. Not that it needs much warming up at the moment.

The breeze has just hit and is expected to drop the temperature to a reasonable summer level.

January 10, 2009

They say a Microsleep is a for a very short time. I do it fairly regularly. Usually on the bus on the way home. I usually miss at least 1 stop, so that's not too long a walk. Tonight (Saturday night) after a couple of drinks at my estaminet of choice, and wishing one half of the twins a beer-lated birthday, I waddled back to the interchange, , caught the bus home, had the headphones on, and the podcast must have been that riveting that it sent me to sleep. Not all that far from home! But far enough so I thought I'd catch the bus to the end of the route, and catch another bus back. So I got off the bus, walked down to the main road, and "D'oh" I had a shoulder bag for small stuff, but I'd left the larger one on the bus. No real probs, but I'd bought an Abba CD in town this afternoon so I didn't want to lose that. Fortunately I was able to get another bus back home (on a faster route) and wait for the "milk run bus" to arrive at the stop. The bussie was a bit perplexed when I said "I just want to pick up the bag", but relaxed when she saw that I knew what I wanted.

That would have been about Bag No 7 gone, had I lost it, so I was quite pleased.

Tomorrow, lunch with friends.

Hope y'all have a great weekend. Don't fall asleep on public transport and always check when you exit your seat that you haven't left any personal belongings behind.

January 04, 2009

...people made jokes about being able to connect a VHS Recorder to a TV. I never had any problem there. I didn't really have a problem connecting a DVD player to the TV. But do you think I can connect a DVR to the TV so I can actually see TV channels through the the new remote on AV1 or AV2 No way Jose!. It'll play DVD's which is great, and as it should be, but i'd kind of expect more bang for the buck, so to speak. I've jiggled AVI cords, moved them to the front and back of the TV, shutdown, repowered etc, but it isn't happening. The machine was only bought today, so I'll give it a day or two, and then re-evaluate the workflow. If all else fails, I'll get the cheaper model which was going to be the 1st choice. I was swayed by the big name and the promise (true) that it actually plays multi region DVD's. So I can view my Attenborough Amazon beauties. There's a lot to be said for the salamander.

Apart from that, all is calm and i'm enjoying a Taylor's Sauv Blanc (very nice).